The former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has expressed regret for insulting the Daily Trust newspaper journalist, Mr. Charles Eyo and said he is withdrawing the word “stupid”, which he used while verbally attacking him.
This comes after the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) slammed the former minister for Verbally attacking Eyo and describing him ‘very stupid’ after the reporter asked on who was bankrolling his tour of projects, in a press conference on Thursday, August 20, 2020.
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On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Fani-Kayode declared that he is withdrawing the word “stupid” from the avalanche of insults he hurled on him because he has many friends in the media.
“I met with my advisors and I wish to say the following: I hereby withdraw the word “stupid” which I used in my encounter with a journalist in Calabar. I have many friends in the media who I offended by losing my cool and using such words. I hereby express my regret for doing so.
“I do however wish to state categorically that no threat of physical harm was ever made to the journalist in question and neither did I send anyone to threaten him. Anyone that says otherwise is lying and I challenge them to bring the proof.
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“I would never seek to physically harm a journalist. For the last 30 years, I have defended and worked with journalists and fought for the right of freedom of expression. Now my tour of the south continues. Moving to another state today,” said the former Minister on his Twitter account.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has also condemned the former minister and said it “condemns the threats made against the journalist by Fani-Kayode. Mr. Eyo is a reporter just doing his job. The actions of Mr. Fani-Kayode during that press conference are an attack on freedom of the press. These patterns of attacks on media and journalists must end.”
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